City Council Appoints New Council Member

The West Sacramento City Council has appointed Beverly Sandeen to fill the remaining term of the Council seat formerly occupied by Oscar Villegas, who was recently appointed to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. Following a public application process in March, Ms. Sandeen emerged from a field of 25 applicants to receive the unanimous endorsement of the City Council. Applications were initially reviewed by Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and Mayor Pro Tem Mark Johannessen. Six finalists were interviewed by the City Council, April 2. The now-filled Council seat continues until November 2016.

Beverly Sandeen is Vice Chancellor, Resource and Economic Development, and President of the Los Rios Foundation for the Los Rios Community College District. In the past, she held management positions with the University of California, Davis and the University of California, Irvine. She’s also a current Commissioner for the West Sacramento Planning Commission, a position she’s held since 2005. She vacates that position with her appointment to the City Council.

The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem evaluated applicants on the following factors:

Understanding of the entire West Sacramento community;

Understanding of the role and functions of the City, the City Council, and individual members of the Council;

Involvement in the community and familiarity with the city’s general governance; and

Complementing the perspective/expertise/external networks of the other Council members.

Mayor Cabaldon observed that, “one sign of a healthy society is that more than two dozen citizens from throughout the community and from a diverse array of backgrounds stepped forward.”

In an application letter to the City of West Sacramento, Ms. Sandeen said the City’s focus on flood protection is priority number one. She feels protecting the City and its assets “into the future matters enormously.” She adds, “my work serving our City on the planning commission, my academic expertise, and my vast management and leadership background, will provide the City with an experienced leader that can tackle these issues and many more ahead of us. I care deeply about the residents and I care about West Sacramento. I am dedicated to making the City the best it can be now and in the future.”

The next meeting of the West Sacramento City Council is scheduled for April 16, 7 p.m. at City Hall, 1110 West Capitol Ave.